On August 18, 2007, the Arizona Diocesan Native American Ministry Program Group met at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Holbrook. Although I was not able to attend due to a work conflict, Catherine Brookshire did go with another group member and gave me the following information.
The September 1 Oakerhater Day had to be cancelled due to lack of venue. This was to be a celebration of David Oakerhater an Oklahoma Native American. The Program Group honors the life of a designated prominent Native American annually. A date for the 2008 celebration is being selected to be held at Cook School for Leadership Training, Tempe, AZ. Prison ministry has been put on hold for time being—this was to benefit the prisoners from Alaska who are incarcerated in Federal Prisons in Arizona. The person who was initiating the process has been called to serve in South Dakota. A Proposed Statement of Goals for 2008 was presented and discussed. Dorothy Saucedo of Navajo-land is looking into how the Window Rock Navajo Youth can transition to city life. Fr. Red Stevens at Fort Defiance will assist in the investigation. The question was raised as to how did the Native Americans in Oklahoma transition into city life since they are not on the reservations. The Grant money for scholarships has been paid out for 4 youth to attend camp at Chapel Rock, 13 children to Native American Kids Camp and 4 adults to attend the Cook School for Christian Leadership classes. The grant money budgeted was $5950.00 for 2007 and $150.00 remains on the books. Discussion on Windows on First Peoples Tour in September revealed the reservations were filled by early summer. Mindy Weisser- Lee, All Saints, Safford reports that the Domestic Violence program at San Carlos is in grave need of more donated items. She gave a list. copies are on shelf at the back of church, of what they are looking for. The donations from St. Stephen’s that were delivered since April had run out as did those from other churches around the diocese. (On 9/1/07, Catherine Brookshire and I delivered another carload of bedding, clothes, toys etc to All Saints, Safford.) Mindy advised that the Thanksgiving food drive for San Carlos and Bylas Apaches would take place on Nov. 16. All food will be packed by volunteers at All Saints on Friday evening and delivered to the homes with the help of a Native guide on Saturday morning. Announcements of food requests and volunteers will be posted within next few weeks at St. Stephens, Sierra Vista and St. John’s, Bisbee. Also, needed are at least 10 vehicles (pick up trucks or SUV type are best choice). Another request came out of Safford from Mindy: there will be raffle tickets available at convention for the benefit of a family in Bylas. The picture is by a local artist who donated it for fund raising for a man who has a rare form of leukemia. He is in an apartment near the University Medical Ctr , Tucson undergoing vigorous Chemotherapy. When not at the hospital he is closely monitored by the hospital staff. He is on the national registry for bone marrow transplant. Unfortunately, he also has a family of six who travel each weekend from Bylas to Tucson, about 275 miles, to assist his physical and emotional fight with the illness. Therefore, they are forced to maintain two
households for the indefinite period of time. The Native American Ministries Program Group has agreed to raise funds to assist the family. Information on Adult Myeloid Leukemia can be found by going to the website: www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdfq/treatment/adultaml/patient/page/. A copy of Mindy’s notice on this fund raising effort is posted on red bulletin board as is the Proposed Statement of Goals for 2008.
As a footnote, may I also add: After delivering your donated goods to Safford on 9/1, the red bin was remarkably full by the following Sunday. I have stored the items in my home until my next trip to Safford. The San Carlos Apache Domestic Violence Program is so new and is in dire need of as much support as we can possible give. Thank you to all who continue to keep the bin full.
The next meeting of the program group will be October 13 at the Cook School. As soon as I receive the official minutes of the August meeting, they will be posted on the red board.
Respectfully submitted,
Dottie Gutwein, Parish Representative
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Dear Brothers and Sisters,
For the past week I have been in Spain for an informal meeting between American and African bishops. Unlike most conferences, there was no communique or statement issued at the end of this gathering. That is because we did not come together to solve the problems of the Anglican Communion, but simply to get to know one another better. The "consultation" was sponsored by Trinity Church, Wall Street, and invitations were sent to every American parish which had a Companionship relationship with an African Diocese as well as any others who wished to attend. About 120 did so.
I believe that we all left our retreat center at El Escorial outside of Madrid with renewed hope for the future of our communion. It seemed clear to me that what unites us is far greater than any divisions we might have. I came away with the strong feeling that we are family and we are not going to allow anyone or anything to break that bond.
The other positive outcome was the strengthening of our common commitment to mission. Many of us were able to spend significant time together and learn about what is happening in our respective dioceses. Many new and deep friendships were made as we worshipped and did Bible study together. I got to know many new African bishops, and to bring greetings back from several Sudanese bishops to our own St Paul's mission.
One thing became especially clear to me. Our African brothers and sisters want us to come and see them! When I suggested in one meeting that the money spent on plane tickets might be better spent on funding various projects, I was quickly reminded that "God created people before God created money!" Another way of saying that relationships are far more important than bank accounts. Our time together gave me some good ideas for ways we might do this which I will share with you at our upcoming convention.
One speaker summed up our time together well: "Jesus did not say, 'Be right as I am right'. He said, Love one another". I felt that love this past week. It is not limited by borders, cultures, or theology. It is what makes us Christ's family.
+Kirk
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As the St. Stephen's Representative to the Native American Ministry Program Group, I have been asked to ask for your help in two areas of dire need:
REQUEST # 1
The Native American Ministry Program Group has decided to
adopt the San Carlos Domestic Violence Program as a part of its ongoing
ministry. The needs for the domestic violence victims and thier children are
great, as you can imagine. They most often have to leave thier homes in such
a hurry they can not bring clothes or essential items with them. Sexual
assault victims must surrender thier clothing at the emergency room because
the clothing is needed for evidence. The following is a partial list of
items needed to assist our sisters in need ( am not giving the full list as
some of it includes assistance for utilities and other monetary assistance):
Women's sweats--sizes M to XL
T-Shirts same sizes
Ladies undergarments, same sizes
Diapers--all sizes
Baby Wipes
Nice Clothing for women to wear to job interviews
Women's Sanitary Products
Toiletries: toonthbrushes, past, shampoo, combs, hair brushes
Baby Clothes, especially "onsies", shirts and pants
Baby Blankets
Ladies Sunglasses
Children items: coloring books/crayons/ little story books,
legos, dollies, toy cars and trucks
Ladies socks
All these and more are needed on an ongoing basis. Gently used items are
very welcome. The program director in San Carlos Domestic Violence Advocacy
and Legal Assistance has asked for a desperately need transportation system
to get clients to shelters through out the state. The Native American
Ministry Program has been asked to network to find a grant to assist with
this need. A member of our Program group is experienced in that type of work
and will no doubt be of great assistance to them.
Copies of the needs list will be on the table inside church
door. Please look for the Red Bin with Native American Ministry Domestic
Violence sign on it. I hope you will find it in your hearts to help me to
help these folks keep the "closet " ful for our sisters and thier children.
REQUEST # 2
The Native American Ministry Program has been asked to assist
in collecting items for the Lakota Mission in South Dakota. We are looking
for coton fabric, solid colors, batting, thread, etc for the making of Star
Quilts. The star quilt is very important to the culture. They are given away
at "Giveaways" for funerals, marriages, birth, etc. Any important event in
their lives. The star quilt took the place of the buffalo robes. Since the
nearest Wal-Marts are 60 to 80 miles away and they do not have the funds for
fabric or gas for travel, anything we can help them with will be greatly
appreciated. This past week, Alverita Egbert and Patti Day were able to sort
through and save out some material donated for rummage sale and put it aside
for this worthy cause. It is currently waiting for other donations to be
added to the trunk. A large Blue Bin will be placed in back of the church
for your ongoing donations . It will be marked for the Lakota Needs.
All of the above donations will be taken to the April 14
meeting in Tempe for distribution to proper organizations. Any ongoing
donations after that will be delivered by me to Safford or Tucson, depending
on the distribution points set up by the Native American Ministry Program
Group.
The reservation children are some of the most abused in the
nation. The items we most need to help them with are not always on thier
highest priority list. School supplies being collected by other churches in
our diocese are being divided between tribal schools on Crow Creek
Reservations (Dakota) and Cheyenne River Reservation (Lakota) by a couple in
Liberty, MO.l
St. Stephens congregation has come through for us on previous
requests for assistance to our Brothers and Sisters in the Native American
Ministry. So, in advance, I want to thank you all for whatever assistance
you can offer to fill the bins and help our friends of San Carlos Apache,
Crow Creek Reservation (Dakota) and the Cheyenne River Reservation (Lakota).
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